At least 350 children and community singers will experience the joy of meeting, listening to, and learning from J. Mark McVey, a professional singer who has toured all over the world. We will ask the church choirs and community singers to complete a written survey about their experience with J. Mark McVey following their practice with him and Central Square board members will tape interviews with elementary students on what they learned about music and singing after Mr. McVey has visited their classroom. 2: 25-30 local amateur musicians and songwriters will enhance their skills as a result of participating in a workshop with Minnesota singer/songwriter John Gorka. At the start of John Gorka's workshop we will gather data about the local musicians and ask them to state their hopes and expectations for songwriting, singing or playing guitar. After the workshop they will complete a written survey to determine how well their needs and interests were met.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Central Square presented a workshop for community singers, members of area church choirs and students at which internationally known Tenor J. Mark McVey talked about his artistic process, his career journey and gave valuable suggestions on vocal technique. 32 workshop participants of all ages learned about the rigors of performing and touring in major musical theater productions, such as Mr. McVey did while performing in his role as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. Several people in attendance took advantage of the opportunity to sing a prepared piece for Mr. McVey after which he gave each of them encouraging feedback and suggestions on how to improve. We felt the workshop content and attendance exceeded expectations. Participants were asked to complete a written evaluation concerning the value of their experience with the artist. A sample of the format is enclosed. John Gorka also gave a workshop as well as performing two mini-concerts for the residents in the Minnewaska Lutheran Home and the students of the Day Treatment program in Starbuck. This population of older and younger Pope County residents seldom get a chance to enjoy high quality arts programming. John's 3 hour workshop was attended by 22 local musicians and other interested people, declared to be music lovers rather than practitioners. John shared his songwriting process and sources of inspiration, after which he sang the song to which he had been referring. People loved that. Workshop participants were invited to perform their own original songs for John and the group. It was an intimate setting and several amateur songwriters took advantage of the offer. They all completed a written evaluation following the workshop, giving John and the experience very positive comments. A sample evaluation is included in the packet of materials enclosed with this final report.

Central Square, in Glenwood, will present the world-famous tenor J. Mark McVey and singer/songwriter John Gorka in concert, along with a number of community engagement activities, such as, workshops, performances in area nursing homes and schools, and a flash mob music event in downtown Glenwood.